I imagine that everyone was equally surprised when the sudden announcement came through last week that the swimming pool operated by Freedom Leisure was to close until at least next spring.
As we all know, the reason given was the significant increase in running costs which have now reached a level that Freedom Leisure regard as unsustainable. Rother District Council too, have indicated that there can be no further assistance from them, at least for the time being. This is understandable, many councils are cash-strapped right now and the chancellor of the exchequer's statement on Monday gave no hope that that situation might change, indeed precisely the opposite.
The main concern, though, must be not so much that it is closing for the winter, but will it ever open again?
Running costs are unlikely to go down to any significant extent between now and the spring and even if they do, energy costs will not be the only problem. I have no idea what the costs of re-commissioning the pool will be, but I suspect they are likely to be substantial: making good any deterioration over the winter, refilling the pool, heating it from scratch, overhauling heating, filtration and chemical systems. And then there are the staff. One assumes they will be laid off, but will they still be available in, say, six months' time or will Freedom Leisure have to start from scratch recruiting new staff?
Both the CEO of Freedom Leisure and our RDC Councillor, Howard Norton have said much the same thing, "Sorry, no money", but neither have indicated what else might be done to help mitigate the problem. For example, could the leisure centre add to its existing revenue in any way: a small increase in charges, running additional events or services by opening the centre's facilities up to other organisations, even perhaps a precept on our rates - the feeling in the town seems to be sufficiently strong, that people might accept this. I am sure that the combined creativity of Freedom Leisure and RDC should be able to come up with a way forward.
The leisure centre and its pool are a public facility and should not be allowed to be closed down, for whatever reason, without first consulting with the very public who use it.
In a recent paper circulated to Rother councillors and available to view on the RDC website, it was stated that, for the population of the Rother district, there should be 988sq.m. of water available. Currently Rother has just 843sq.m. The closure at Rye will reduce this still further. The same paper emphasises the need for activity in an increasingly sedentary society and this is backed up by the government's own policy on sport and activity for all. It is particularly important that young children should be introduced to swimming at an early age - often done through local schools' participation.
No one is suggesting that, in the current circumstances, many organisations are not subjected to real problems and challenges, but that is not a reason to give up. It is, though, a reason for RDC councillors and Freedom Leisure executives to face the challenge, earn our votes and their salaries, and come up with an answer.
